Associates of President Donald Trump have expressed concerns that the Iran War may continue throughout his presidency, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) citing sources on September 9. While Trump has assured that the conflict will end after the midterm elections, contrasting worries have emerged within his administration.
According to the report, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and other key officials conveyed to Trump during discussions in the Oval Office and Situation Room that Iran may continue to resist despite U.S. maritime blockades and other military pressures. They indicated that the Iran War could extend until the next presidential inauguration in January 2029.
This information stands in stark contrast to Trump’s assertion that the Iran War would conclude immediately after the midterm elections. Speaking to reporters at Andrews Joint Base near Washington, D.C., before departing for the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, Texas, Trump stated, “I believe the war will end as soon as the elections are over because they (Iran) can no longer hold out.”
He added, “They (Iran) are desperate to influence the election results because that is how they will be allowed to have nuclear weapons.” Trump emphasized, “What they want is nuclear weapons, and if they obtain them, the whole world will be in danger.”
As the Iran War, which began in February, enters its seventh month, sources indicate that Trump has been discussing his desire to resolve the conflict quickly with his associates. However, they also noted that Trump prefers to use pressure tactics such as maritime blockades and sanctions to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program.
In this context, senior officials in the Trump administration also appear uncertain about when the Iran War might conclude. Last week, Vice President Vance told reporters that he would not refer to the current military engagement with Iran as a “war,” expressing uncertainty about when the conflict might end.
Additionally, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reportedly plans to extend the deployment of some air defense troops to the Middle East without a clear end date, according to WSJ sources.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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